Sunrise over Shree Muktananda Ashram, New York, USA
Sunrise over Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
Sunrise over Rochester, New York, USA
Sunrise over San Diego, California, USA
Sunrise over Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Sunrise over Bedford Gardens, South Africa
Sunrise over Ganpat Vidyanagar, India
Sunrise over Hopewell, Jamaica
Sunrise over Noonamah, Australia
Sunrise over Eteimbes, France
Sunrise over Naperville, Illinois, USA
Sunrise over Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Sunrise over Latisana, Italy
Sunrise over Black Forest, Germany
Sunrise over Sippy Downs, Australia
Sunrise over Patchogue, New York, USA
Sunrise over Mersin, Turkey
Sunrise over Johannesburg, South Africa
Sunrise over Crowthorne, United Kingdom
Sunrise over Ibiza, Spain
Sunrise over Busselton, Australia
Sunrise over Rockville, Utah, USA
Sunrise over Busselton, Australia
Sunrise over Chico, California, USA
Sunrise over Benicia, California, USA
Sunrise over Berkeley, California, USA
Sunrise over Duisburg, Germany
Sunrise over Florence, Italy
Sunrise over Kempten, Germany
Sunrise over Coron, Philippines
Sunrise over Russellville, Missouri, USA
Sunrise over Walnut Creek, California, USA
Sunrise over Lagos, Nigeria
Sunrise over Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Sunrise over Vicenza, Italy
Sunrise over Melbourne, Australia
Sunrise over Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
Sunrise over Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
Sunrise over Pune, India
Sunrise over Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
Sunrise over West Hampton, New York, USA
Sunrise over Bangkok, Thailand
Sunrise over Soja, India
Sunrise over Pune, India
Sunrise over Napoli, Italy
Sunrise over Wurtsboro, New York, USA
Sunrise over Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Sunrise over Accord, New York, USA
Sunrise over Creswick, Australia
Sunrise over Busselton, Australia
Sunrise over Jena, Germany
Sunrise over Milano, Italy
Sunrise over Marseille, France
Sunrise over Solna, Sweden
Sunrise over Soja, India
Sunrise over Soja, India
Sunrise over Miami, Florida, USA
Sunrise over Marbella, Spain
Sunrise over Annecy, France
Sunrise over Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
Sunrise over Villanueva De La Canada, Spain
Sunrise over Poipu, Hawaii, USA
Sunrise over Chicago, Illinois, USA
Sunrise over Castelvecchio, Italy
Sunrise over Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Sunrise over Nagda, India
Sunrise over Khargone, India
Sunrise over Montpellier, France
Sunrise over Almu Ecar, Spain
Sunrise over Miami, Florida, USA
Sunrise over Northbrook, Illinois, USA
Sunrise over Valsad, India
Sunrise over Fukuoka, Japan
Sunrise over Akumal, Mexico
Sunrise over Bundaberg, Australia
Sunrise over Sippy Downs, Australia
Sunrise over Mansa, India
Sunrise over Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
Sunrise over Villeneuve Les Maguelone, France
Sunrise over Maputo, Mozambique
Sunrise over Chennai, India
Sunrise over Bangalore, India
Sunrise over Dehu Road, India
Sunrise over Bhopal, India
Sunrise over Surat, India
Sunrise over Gandhinagar, India
Sunrise over Puri, India
Sunrise over Trieste, Italy
Sunrise over Crestone, Colorado, USA
Sunrise over Casa de Estudios, Mexico
Sunrise over Morteratsch, Switzerland
Sunrise over Maloja, Switzerland
Sunrise over Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Sunrise over Starnberg, Germany
Sunrise over Inchenhofen, Germany
Sunrise over Cary, North Carolina, USA
Sunrise over Baden, Germany
Sunrise over Pine Mountain Club, California, USA
Sunrise over Valdaora, Italy
Sunrise over Oberstdorf, Germany
Sunrise over Shree Muktananda Ashram, New York, USA
Daybreak dispels the night, bringing fresh clarity to the waking world. The sun is self-luminous, constant, and ever new. In the Siddha Yoga tradition, welcoming the auspicious first dawn of a new year evokes the awakening of the light of Consciousness within each of us.
In this compilation of New Year’s Day sunrise images, Siddha Yogis welcome the new decade by sharing the sun’s early light on this auspicious day from perspectives around the planet. As these many images depict the very same sun, we can appreciate that the one light of Consciousness shines through every heart, uniting us all.
The inspiration for gathering New Year’s Day images came on the first day of January 2013. That morning in Shree Muktananda Ashram, Gurumayi described to Sweet Surprise participants how she had gone outside to view the year’s first sunrise and found the sky covered by thick clouds. Seeing this, Gurumayi envisioned the global Siddha Yoga sangham sharing their photos of the dawning of the new year as they had seen it, for all to enjoy. The SYDA Foundation Website Department shared Gurumayi’s request, inviting Siddha Yogis and new seekers to submit their New Year’s Day sunrise photos to the Siddha Yoga path website.
That year and every year since, Siddha Yogis from around the globe have joyfully responded to this annual invitation, sharing with Gurumayi, and with each other, their images of the dawn on New Year’s Day.
If these photos could sing, they would gladly sing out, "This day is a golden day!"
New York, United States
When I clicked through this amazing slideshow, enjoying the landscapes, colors, temperatures, feelings, and especially the great silence, I noticed that there were 108 photos. This evoked in me the inner image of a mala. I began anew, saying the mantra at each photo with the intention to send blessings to the photographer, the land, the country with all its beings.
I saw so many shapes of the sun in so many hues, but it is one sun. I saw so many images of the land, but it is our one planet Earth. There are so many photographers, so many people who watched the rising sun in silence, and we are one. There are so many blessings and they are joined to one. There is one light. I am so grateful for this teaching.
Hindelang, Germany
This morning I woke up with an irresistible desire to travel, to see the world, to smell foreign perfumes, and to breathe different air. And in opening these fantastic photos, I was taken on the best-ever tour around the world!
I imagined our beloved Gurumayi also viewing these magnificent images and I felt her joy, her love for the planet. United in this love, we become one. I am so grateful to the photographers for waking up early all around the world to send these precious moments.
Trevi, Italy
This morning, while looking at these beautiful sunrise images, I recited the Surya Gayatri mantra in harmony with the music ensemble. As I traveled around the globe accompanied by the sound of the mantra, I felt like I was entering a temple whose door was adorned with 108 icons. In this sacred space reverberating in my heart, I discovered that the sun shining at the same time in every part of the world is in fact the sun of Consciousness.
Rodez, France
I love this beautiful montage of the images of a new dawn of a new year. I felt that I had traveled the world and saw the serenity that can be found by just standing in a place and taking it all in. I imagined the breeze, the smells, the stillness, the tranquility in each scene.
The world can be a great refuge, if we can just stand still and see its beauty. I want to make this into a practice of just standing still, looking out, seeing the beauty, and feeling at peace.
Florida, United States
When I viewed this photo gallery, there were 108 photographs in it—108 beads on this beautiful mala of images of sunlight dispelling darkness and bringing new dawn to our planet Earth!
Russian Federation
As I viewed the images, the Surya Gayatri mantra spontaneously arose within me. Contemplating each image with great focus and reflection became my meditation. I am grateful for this opportunity to visit these divine pictures at the auspicious time of Makara Sankranti.
Johannesburg, South Africa
While looking at these images, I remember how much joy I felt watching the sunrise on New Year’s Day—how at first the clouds appeared moody and dark and then slowly became brilliant with color. I’m amazed by how so many people around the world can come together to contribute to this collection and by how this has such a beautiful impact on my day. This continues to fill me with something just as beautiful: love.
California, United States
What I recognize most in these “Dawn and Sunrise Images” is the unity and dedication among Siddha Yogis. All over the world, Siddha Yoga students and seekers rose early to celebrate New Year’s Day by sharing their gratitude, anticipation, and longing for new beginnings.
As I viewed each photo, I imagined what sensations may have been going through the photographers as they focused their cameras. In some parts of the world, during those early hours it is still chilly, and even quite cold! Nevertheless, I think their exuberance must have provided all the warmth they needed, as they demonstrated their sincerity and focus in capturing the picture-perfect moment. Realizing this, I felt myself invigorated and grateful for their contributions.
Connecticut, United States
I am so grateful for this tradition! I love greeting Lord Surya at the dawn of the New Year. I become like a child: "Oh! I have to get up and see the sun! What will he look like? How will the sky dress to greet him? What will the birds be singing?”
I am returned to a state of innocence, exuberance, trust, and my heart ignites!
